Porn scandal firefighter to fight sacking

A TAMESIDE firefighter who was sacked for sending a pornographic email is to appeal against his dismissal. Firefighter Christopher Moss, from Stalybridge fire station, and watch commander Mark Sapple, based at the fire service training centre in Manchester, were both axed earlier this year for forwarding hardcore pornographic material.

A TAMESIDE firefighter who was sacked for sending a pornographic email is to appeal against his dismissal.

Firefighter Christopher Moss, from Stalybridge fire station, and watch commander Mark Sapple, based at the fire service training centre in Manchester, were both axed earlier this year for forwarding hardcore pornographic material.

Eleven other officers across the brigade were also disciplined for passing on ‘inappropriate’ material of an adult nature. None of the material was illegal.

Mr Moss and Mr Sapple are among five officers to appeal. The others are a senior manager at Rochdale borough headquarters, who was demoted to firefighter, and two members of staff at fire service HQ in Pendlebury, who were demoted one rank.

Fire Brigades’ Union secretary Peter Taylor confirmed the plans to appeal but said it would be inappropriate to comment further as the process had not yet concluded. It is thought all five will argue that the punishments were too harsh.

The appeals are likely to be heard before Christmas in front of the brigade’s new County Fire Officer, Steve McGuirk, or another senior officer.

The action was taken in October following a brigade-wide investigation which began when Mr Sapple and Salford-based community safety officer Jan Finch were suspended for allegedly sending an ‘inappropriate’ email.

Mrs Finch allegedly sent the email to Mr Sapple which included a graphic image with a humorous caption of an unknown woman with a body piercing.

He is then said to have forwarded it to other people.

Among those who allegedly received it was a female member of the brigade’s staff. As she looked at it, a senior officer who was standing by her also saw it and decided to make a formal complaint to management.

A brigade spokesman said: "It would be inappropriate for us to comment on this matter as the appeals have yet to be heard."